Self-erecting display stand that automatically dimensionalizes front panels

Abstract

A collapsible, self-erecting display stand has a back panel, a front display panel, a side support panel, and a biasing member. From its collapsed configuration, the biasing member urges the back panel and side support panel to a position supporting a free-standing display stand and, simultaneously, the front display panel is projected outwardly to achieve a three-dimensional effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-erecting display apparatus comprising: (a) a front display panel;   (b) a back panel flexibly fastened to said front display panel;   (c) a first side support panel flexibly fastened to a first side of said back panel;   (d) a first biasing means, associated with at least one of said back panel and first side support panel, for urging said first side support panel to a position supporting a free-standing orientation of said apparatus; and   (e) a moving means, associated with said first side support panel, for moving said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side support panel includes a means for engaging said first biasing means. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back panel includes a means for engaging said first biasing means. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moving means comprises a first tongue. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first tongue pushes against and projects said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel as said first biasing means urges said first side support panel to said position supporting said free-standing orientation of said apparatus. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first tongue is die-cut. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front display panel includes information. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said information is written and/or pictorial. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first biasing means is selected from the group consisting of springs, rubber bands and elastic bands. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second side support panel flexibly fastened to said back panel. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second side support panel is flexibly fastened to a second side of said back panel. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, where at least one of said first and second side support panels includes a means for engaging said biasing means. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said moving means is associated with said first and said second side support panels. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said moving means includes a first tongue associated with said first side support panel and a first tongue associated with said second side support panel. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first tongue of said first side support panel and said first tongue of said second side support panel push against and project said front display panel upwardly and outwardly relative to said back display panel as said first biasing means urges said first and second side support panels to said positions supporting said free-standing orientation of said apparatus. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an intermediate panel placed in between said front display panel and said back panel, wherein said intermediate panel has first and second holes so that said first tongues of said first and second side support panels may protrude through said first and second holes, respectively, and push on said front display panel. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said intermediate panel has third and fourth holes through which said front display panel may be directly flexibly fastened to said back panel. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said first and said second side support panels have bottom portions, flexibly connected to each of said first and said second side support panels along a latitudinal line, wherein said bottom portions may be folded along said latitudinal line to a position substantially normal to said first and said second side support panels to provide additional support to a free-standing orientation of said display apparatus. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bottom panel flexibly fastened to said back panel to provide additional support to said free-standing orientation of said apparatus. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said moving means includes a second tongue associated with said first side support panel for projecting said bottom panel outwardly relative to said back panel as said first biasing means urges said first side support panel to said position supporting said free-standing orientation of said apparatus. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side support panel and said back panel each have two sections, said sections flexibly connected along a latitudinal line, wherein said front display panel is substantially centrally situated within said section of said back panel and wherein said sections may be folded onto each other along said latitudinal line to provide for folding of said apparatus. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front display panel moves substantially arcuately relative to said back panel as said moving means moves said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel. 
     
     
       23. A self-erecting display apparatus comprising: (a) a front display panel;   (b) a back panel flexibly fastened to said front display panel;   (c) a first side support panel having a first tongue, wherein said first side support panel is flexibly fastened to a side of said back panel; and   (d) a first biasing means, associated with at least one of said first side support panel and said back panel, for urging said first side support panel to a position supporting a free-standing orientation of said apparatus and, simultaneously, wherein said first tongue pushes on said front display panel, projecting said front display panel upwardly and outwardly relative to said back panel.   
     
     
       24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a means for engaging said first biasing means with said back panel. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said front display panel includes information. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said information is written and/or pictorial. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said first tongue is die-cut. 
     
     
       28. A method for erecting a display stand having a first side support panel, a front display panel and a back panel, said first side support panel including a first tongue, said method comprising the steps of: (a) biasing said first side support panel from a first position substantially planar with said back panel to a second position capable of supporting a free-standing display stand; and   (b) simultaneously projecting said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel as said first tongue pushes against said front display panel when said first side support panel moves from said first position to said second position.   
     
     
       29. A method for erecting a display stand as claimed in claim 28, said display stand further having a second side support panel, said second side support panel having a first tongue, said method further comprising the steps of: (a) biasing said second side support panel from a first position substantially planar with said back panel to a second position capable of supporting said free-standing display stand; and   (b) simultaneously projecting said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel as said first tongue of said second side support panel pushes against said front display panel and said second side support panel moves from said first position to said second position.   
     
     
       30. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein said first and said second side support panels project said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel simultaneously. 
     
     
       31. A method, as claimed in claim 29, said display stand further having a bottom display panel, said first and said second side support panels further including second tongues, said method further comprising the step of: simultaneously projecting said bottom panel outwardly relative to said back panel as said second tongues of said first and said second side support panels push against said bottom panel when said first and said second side support panels move from said first positions to said second positions.   
     
     
       32. A self-erecting display apparatus comprising: (a) a front display panel;   (b) a back panel flexibly fastened to said front display panel;   (c) a first side support panel flexibly fastened to a side of said back panel;   (d) a first biasing means, associated with at least one of said back panel and first side support panel, for urging said first side support panel to a position supporting a free-standing orientation of said apparatus; and   (e) a moving means, associated with said first side support panel, for moving said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel, said moving means including a first tongue, wherein said first tongue pushes against and projects said front display panel outwardly relative to said back panel as said first biasing means urges said first side support panel to said position supporting said free-standing orientation of said apparatus.   
     
     
       33. A self-erecting display apparatus comprising: (a) a front display panel;   (b) a back panel flexibly fastened to said front display panel;   (c) a first side support panel having a first tongue, wherein said first side support panel is flexibly fastened to a side of said back panel;   (d) a first biasing means, associated with at least one of said first side support panel and said back panel, for urging said first side support panel to a position supporting a free-standing orientation of said apparatus and, simultaneously, wherein said first tongue pushes on said front display panel, projecting said front display panel upwardly and outwardly relative to said back panel; and   (e) a means for engaging said first biasing means with said back panel.